Charges added against Southwest Greensburg slaying suspect

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A hitchhiker picked up by a homicide suspect the day of a fatal shooting in Southwest Greensburg told investigators he saw a handgun in the accused man's pickup as they headed to Westmoreland County.

Jevon Little's statement is included in an affidavit accompanying new charges filed Tuesday against Richard A. McAnulty, 54, of Center Township, Indiana County, in Greensburg District Judge James Albert's office.

McAnulty, charged with criminal homicide in the shooting death of Harry A. Mears III, 39, of 615 Oakland Ave., faces new charges of felon not to have a firearm and carrying a weapon without a license.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said yesterday that he does not anticipate filing any more charges against McAnulty, who faces a preliminary hearing before Albert.

Authorities accused McAnulty of shooting Mears with a .44 Magnum handgun after McAnulty broke down the door at Mears' residence shortly after 4 p.m. July 11. Mears, who tried to flee from his attacker through a second-floor window, was shot three times -- once inside his home and twice outside, police said. He died shortly after the shooting at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital.

Investigators allege McAnulty had argued with his wife over an e-mail on the day of the shooting, ordered her out of the house and then drove in his pickup from Indiana County to Southwest Greensburg. Carolyn Diane McAnulty, 54, was involved in a relationship with Mears that ended about a year ago, authorities said.

One of the new weapon charges stems from McAnulty's 1977 conviction on felony rape and kidnapping charges in Indiana County, according to court papers. A jury determined that on Oct. 19, 1976, McAnulty kidnapped an 18-year-old Indiana University of Pennsylvania coed at gunpoint, then raped her on a dead-end road about two miles from the campus.

Little told investigators that McAnulty picked him up the afternoon of the shooting on Route 119 near the Black Lick Fire Department in Indiana County.

"Mr. Little added that while he and the defendant were driving in the area of Southwest Greensburg, he observed the grip of a handgun to be partially concealed under some clothing in the back seat of the truck," the court papers state.

Little, who was dropped off by McAnulty before the shooting, said McAnulty told him he had an "assault rifle" in the back cab of the truck, according to court papers. McAnulty made the statement after Little heard "a thud" in the truck, police said.

Kim Gray, a health care worker who was caring for McAnulty's invalid mother at his home July 11 told police she saw him put a "black rifle" into his "maroon/burgundy Ford truck" the afternoon of July 11, then drive off, according to court papers.

Gray told investigators that McAnulty returned home about 5:30 p.m. and said "he had killed his wife's lover," according to court papers. She told police she saw a handgun on the front porch.

Police said they found a revolver on a recliner in the home after McAnulty surrendered. They also seized a rifle.

McAnulty is to be arraigned on the latest charges todayfrom the Westmoreland County Prison, where he is being held without bond.

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